Rheumatoid Arthritis and Diet: Things You Can Do – Guest Post

It’s probably not the news you wanted to hear, but despite countless studies by a number of different researchers testing a number of different methods, there has yet to be any conclusive data that suggests certain foods can help with your rheumatoid arthritis.

That said, there’s still plenty that you can do to help quell your symptoms, and much of that can be predicated on what you’re eating.

Keep a Watchful Eye

First and foremost, it’s important to note that, no matter what you read here or anywhere else on the web – or even hear from a doctor – the only thing that matters is how your body responds to certain things. While many of the people giving you this advice surely know what they’re talking about, they are, of course, generalizing. And while this generalization could be backed by boat loads of experience, it’s still generalizing.

So, when trying to figure out how to deal with your rheumatoid arthritis, you must accept that you’re committing to a perpetual game of guess and check. You need to experiment, stick with what works and move on from what doesn’t.

Anti-Inflammatory Foods

This should go without saying, but if you’re trying to quell the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, it’s probably a good idea for you to try to eat as many foods that have anti-inflammatory properties and capabilities.

At the top of that list is fish, which are packed with huge amounts of omega-3 fatty acids, which have been proven time and time over to be great for helping the body move blood around.

It’s also important to remember that, while what we said earlier about the dearth of evidence pointing to any conclusive diet that can absolutely help with symptoms no matter what, fish oil supplements are very popular for use with people with rheumatoid arthritis.

Seeing as fish oil is, well, exactly that, the extract of oils from many of the same fish you can find at the seafood department of your local grocery store, it’s probably a good idea for you to start your experimenting there and see how that works out for you.

Eating Less Altogether

This may not apply to many people, and this certainly isn’t to suggest that any of the problems you’re having are your own fault. Of course they’re not.

That said, if you’re suffering from rheumatoid arthritis, weight loss may be a great way for you to help alleviate some of your symptoms.

This is because no matter what the cause of your rheumatoid arthritis, many of the pains and swelling you’re experiencing is only going to get worse if you’re putting a ton of stress on those areas by way of weight.

This is particularly true of joints, which are often the worse sites of rheumatoid arthritis pain. Even if they’re not, it’s worth pointing out that being overweight or obese could contribute to a number of problems later on down the road, many of which will only make dealing with the rheumatoid arthritis you’ve got that much worse.

Exercise

This isn’t simply an extension of the weight loss subsection, but it’s certainly worth noting that exercise is one of the best ways to help you lose weight.

Exercise, though, is also remarkably effective at helping move blood throughout the body. This is because when you exercise, your heart begins to race to try to ensure that you’re being provided with enough oxygen-rich blood to get you through your workout.

In the meantime, though, all of that circulating can help get all of that blood away from your problem areas, which should certainly help alleviate pain.

Valerie Johnston is a health writer located in Lake Fork, Texas. She is passionate about running and clean eating and writing for Healthline.com ensures she stays up-to-date on the latest trends and news in the health and fitness industry.

I have experimented with diet and supplements starting in January 2010 and have seen great results with my rheumatoid and psoriatic arthritis as well as my psoriasis. Gluten is one of the things I avoid. Instead of bread these days I eat rice biscuits. I have a couple of videos on my site demonstrating my improved range of movements.